Boost Academic Success: Learning Styles

The following excerpt comes from Dr. Michelle Borba and is one of seven parenting tips to help with school success. Thank you to one of our staff members for sharing this (this is one of seven posts on this topic).

Respect Learning Styles

If your son insists on plugging into his iPod when he studies, or if your daughter swears that flash cards are the only way she can learn her spelling words- listen up! While you may prefer a quiet room with no distractions when it comes to getting work done, that doesn’t mean it’s the best way for your kids to concentrate and get down to business.

Harvard researcher, Howard Gardner’s work shows there are different kinds of intelligences-or ways kids learn best-which include: musical, spatial, logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalist.The trick is to pay attention to how your kid learns best so you can identify their unique learn style (not yours!) and then tap into it help them be more successful. For instance, if your child learns best by remembering what she sees, point it out to her and encourage her to draw, mindmap or draw those images.